New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-09-20
WRECKED AND BURNED.
CARS DESTROYED BY OIL AND POWDER.
COLLISION OF FREIGHT TRAINS ON THE PENNsYL-
VANIA RAILRoAD-THRxE MEN FATALLY HURT.
(pr TELEGRAPH 10 ruE rKtBuSll

COLLISION OF FREIGHT TRAINS ON THE PENNsYL-
vANIA RAILRoAD-THRxE MEN FATALLY HURT.
tpr TELEGRAPH 10 ruE rKrBuxRJ
WILKEsBARRE Sept ia disastrous wreck
occurred this afternoon on the North and West
branch OF the Pennsylvania Railroad not far from
the small station Of Mocanaqna, about twenty
miles from this city. From Nanticohe to Mocan-
aqua, distance Of ten miles, there is only q
single track. 4 freight train was coming ND
the road in two sections The first section
passed up all right, and the dispatcher at the
Nanticoke end Of tho line seeing 1t pass did not
think of the other section coming up behind and
ordered freight train standing In the yard at
Nanticoke to proceed on its way down the line.
1t did so, and on curve about three miles above
Mocanaqua and about mile and half below q
small station known as Retreat the two trains.
both running about twenty-five miles an hour.
met with terrific force. The engineers and brake
men saw that o disaster was unavoidable and
jumped from their trains. nearly every one receiv-
ing injuries Of q more less serious nature.
James Keen, engineer of one of the trains was
terribly cut about the head and had one arm and
leg broken. 1t is not believed that he can recover
Elwood Swank, brakeman, had q hip dis
located, and in the explosions which followed
was fr0htfully burned. His injuries are fatal.
slight injuries and were able to make their way TO
places OF safety One of the brakemen Louis
Metz, failed to jump in time, and when
the crash came was buried in the wreck. Both
engines were completely ly wrecked. The cars press
ipe on, finally mounted on top of them and we're
heap Of r r%ins ''f Three ~ cars | in one 'asf 81
the trains were loaded with oil IN barrels
and four cars with powder packed in twenty-five
muncated with the wreck which, saturated with
6elcely, the flames rushing up pinto into the air % ioo
feet and burning everything In q few minutes the
fire reached the powder and explosion after
plosion followed as the cans were ignited. The
violence of the explosion hurled the blazing ruins
OF the cars around on every side. The telegraph
poles were blown down. trees standing close by the
track were upr0Oted, and heavy masses Of timber
and wreck hurled far upon the mountain side, and
some pieces even thrown into the river, which ran
half mile away. Fully forty freight cars with
their contents were smashed aud scattered around
Oh every side.
Help was sent for to Mccanaqua
residents in the negborhOOd gathered around 10
render assistance Metz was found lying under the
wreck some little distance from the engines bat
the fire was steadily creeping along to where he
was He could not be stirred as the wreck that
pressed him down weighed many tons. Frantic
efforts were put forth. to save him. A bucket
brigade was formed and buckets of water passed
from hand to hand distance Of 800 feet.
In this way the flames were held
of men strove to extricate the unfortunate man.
At last he was got ont. Both legs were broken.
one hip smashed and an arm broken above the
elbow He was still alike and was taken to tho
Wlkesbarre Hospital.
cross the river at Mocanaqua and Nanticoke snt
between these points use the tracks of tue Della
ware, Lackawanna and Western Road. The dam
age is estimated at fully $4,000.